Christmas Might Be The Better Season, But You Can't Top Thanksgiving Day

I love all holidays. For me, a holiday always means hanging with my family and eating really good food. But, one holiday in particular embodies this more than any of the others: Thanksgiving. As someone who absolutely LOVES Christmas and always has, it's been weird for me in the last few years to realize that, while the Christmas season can't be beat, Thanksgiving is the best holiday as an actual day.

For one thing, Thanksgiving is an entire day set aside to be thankful for what we have. I've discovered that the older I get, the more thankful I am. I love that we take time out just to celebrate that we have more things to be thankful for than we deserve. Thanksgiving always brings up these lovely and warm memories of watching the Macy's Day Parade with hot apple cider in the mornings and of baking pies with my mom, grandmother, and sister. It makes me think of excitedly waiting for our large family to arrive at our house (Thanksgiving being the only time that we officially gather there instead of at my grandmother's). Thanksgiving reminds me of a special kind of coziness and warmth that no other day of the year does, even Christmas Day.

Christmas is great; I love the season where it's a little colder outside, but everyone's hearts seem to be just a little warmer. I love all of the decorations and the lights and the music. I love the atmosphere surrounding Christmas. I love that I get to celebrate it as a Christian. The Christmas season is amazing. Christmas Day itself is great, but I've still got to give the best day to Thanksgiving. When else could I take whipped cream "shots" with my cousins and grandmother standing around my kitchen? Could we really wait until Christmas Day to build our gingerbread house that, as a part of tradition and not at all due to faulty workmanship, consistently falls apart about 10 minutes after we step away from it?

Maybe it has something to do with Thanksgiving being the "official" start to the Christmas season too. I mean, personally, I start listening to Christmas music on November 1st (and yes, I still respect Thanksgiving, so slow your roll), but for a lot of people, that extra warm heartedness and cheer and goodwill toward others doesn't really begin until Thanksgiving or the day after. Maybe this day when we're thankful for what we have fuels us to go out and spread a little more kindness in the world. I have no clue. But I do know that it's the only day of the year where it's acceptable to do nothing but eat, watch football, and enjoy the fact that you simply exist in a life as wonderful as this one and that's enough for me.

So, Christmas season, I can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks, but for now, I'll be getting hyped up for Thanksgiving Day — the single best holiday there is.

5 Perks Of Having A Long-Distance Best Friend

Sometimes, people get annoyed when girls refer to multiple people as their "best friend," but they don't understand. We have different types of best friends. There's the going out together best friend, the see each other everyday best friend and the constant, low maintenance best friend.

While I'm lucky enough to have two out of the three at the same school as me, my "low maintenance" best friend goes to college six hours from Baton Rouge.

This type of friend is special because no matter how long you go without talking or seeing each other, you're always insanely close. Even though I miss her daily, having a long-distance best friend has its perks. Here are just a few of them...

1. Getting to see each other is a special event.

Sometimes when you see someone all the time, you take that person and their friendship for granted. When you don't get to see one of your favorite people very often, the times when you're together are truly appreciated.

2. You always have someone to give unbiased advice.

This person knows you best, but they probably don't know the people you're telling them about, so they can give you better advice than anyone else.

3. You always have someone to text and FaceTime.

While there may be hundreds of miles between you, they're also just a phone call away. You know they'll always be there for you even when they can't physically be there.

4. You can plan fun trips to visit each other.

When you can visit each other, you get to meet the people you've heard so much about and experience all the places they love. You get to have your own college experience and, sometimes, theirs, too.

5. You know they will always be a part of your life.

If you can survive going to school in different states, you've both proven that your friendship will last forever. You both care enough to make time for the other in the midst of exams, social events, and homework.

14 Things You Relate To If You Grew Up WithOUT Any Cousins

It always shocks every person who hears me state that I do not have any cousins. For some reason, this is just hard for people to really believe when it's actually not something impossible. I think we are all just so used to large families that it sounds weird when people say that they have no cousins. Yet, it is definitely a potential reality, and actually impossible if each of your parents is the only child to your grandparents.

Here are 14 things that you can relate to if you grew up without any cousins.

1. Nobody believes you when you say that you don't have any cousins

I'm serious, for the tenth time.

2. Your grandparents spoil you

With no other grandchildren to worry about, it's pretty easy to do.

3. You don't understand when people say that cousins are your first best friends

My best friend was my first best friend.

4. You and your siblings are always the youngest people at family events

This was simultaneosuly a good thing and a bad thing.

5. You get all of the attention at holidays

Since you're the youngest one around, then distant relatives are always doting over you.

6. Everything you do is deemed awesome by your extended family because there is nobody to compete with

It's much easier to be praised when you aren't being compared to someone similar to your age.

7. You don't know how to hold babies

You're never around them so why would you?

8. Family photos are pretty easy to coordinate

The less people, the easier.

9. Other family members spoil you just because

Afterall, you are the only kid around...

10. The family will make comments regarding the potential for you to have a cousin as a justification for why they aren't doing something for you

When you hear, "I can't buy you too much because someday your aunt is going to have kids and I will have to do the same for them" you cringe and just had to know that all of the attention wouldn't last forever.

11. Birthdays are always a big deal

A perk of not having very many to remember.

12. If your parents' siblings own pets, then you refer to the animal as your cousin